THE CROOKED MOUTH FAMILY

I used to tell a lot more stories in my workshops. It's interesting that teachers who saw me present years ago will often remember and request a story they heard me tell. Someone recently requested "The Crooked Mouths." It's a funny story that reminds me of how we keep making the same mistakes in education - but don't seem to learn from them!

It’s best if you light a real candle to tell the story, but in the classroom I would just pretend my index finger was the candle. You’ll need to practice this story several times in front of a mirror before attempting it in front of a group.

This is a story about a silly family called the Crooked Mouths.
         Father Crooked Mouth could only talk out of the left side of his mouth like this. (Say this out of the left corner of your mouth. Every time father talks in the story say it from the left side of your mouth.)
         Mother Crooked Mouth could only talk out of the right side of her mouth like this. (When mother speaks say it from the right side of your mouth.)
         Brother Crooked Mouth could only talk out of the bottom of his mouth like this. (Stick out chin and bottom teeth to talk like brother.)
         And Sister Crooked Mouth could only talk out of the top of her mouth like this. (Stick out top teeth and talk for sister.)

One night when the Crooked Mouths had gone to bed they heard a strange noise downstairs.
         “Oh, dear,” said mother. “What could that be?”
         “Well, I better go see,” said father. So he lit a candle and walked downstairs. (Take a candle and light it or hold up your index finger and pretend it is a candle.)
         He looked all around, but he didn’t see a thing. Father decided to go back upstairs and go to bed. He tried to blow out the candle. “Whh! Whh!” (Blow from the left side of mouth.) But he couldn’t blow it out.
         “Oh, dear,” said mother. “Let me try. Whh! Whh!” (Blow from right side of mouth.) But she couldn’t blow it out either.
         “Oh, dear,” said father.
         “Oh, dear,” said mother. “What shall we do?”
         “Let’s go wake up brother,” said father. So father and mother went to brother’s room.
         “Wake up, brother,” said mother. “Father lit a candle and we can’t blow it out.”
         So brother took the candle and he tried to blow it out. “Whh! Whh!” (Blow from bottom of mouth.) But he couldn’t blow it out either.
         “Oh, dear,” said father.
         “Oh, dear,” said mother. “What shall we do?”
         “Let’s go wake up sister,” said brother. So mother and father and brother went to sister’s room.
         “Wake up, sister,” said brother. “Father lit a candle and we can’t blow it out.”
         So sister took the candle and she tried to blow it out. “Whh! Whh!” (Blow from the top of mouth.) But she couldn’t blow it out either.
         “Oh, dear,” said father.
         “Oh, dear,” said mother.
         “Oh, dear,” said brother.
         “Oh, dear,” said sister. “What shall we do?”
         Just then they heard someone knock on the front door. (Knock! Knock!) They went downstairs and it was Officer O’Brien.
         “What’s going on?” he asked. “You’ve awakened the whole neighborhood with all your commotion.”
         “Well, I lit a candle and I can’t blow it out,” said father.
         “I can’t blow it out either,” said mother.
         “I can’t blow it out either,” said brother.
         “Boo hoo hoo,” cried sister.
         Officer O’Brien laughed, took the candle, and blew it out. Then he told the Crooked Mouths good night and left.
         Mother, father, brother, and sister started back upstairs to get in bed.
         “Oh, dear,” said mother. “I can’t see a thing.”
         “Neither can I,” said sister.
         “Well, I better light a candle,” said father. (Pretend to light the candle again.)

MAGIC WANDS

Give yourself a Harry Potter cheer by putting your finger in the air like a magic wand as you go, “You’re psh psh psh – TERRIFIC!!!”

And here’s a terrific magic wand you can make with your students. Take wooden chopsticks or coffee stirrers and dip one end in glue. Roll in glitter, dry, and ABRACADABRA! Now, let’s see if we can do a little magic with the wands in your classroom.

Smart Wands
Children walk around the room and point to words, letters, shapes, etc. that they can recognize.
*Encourage them to use whisper voices and make complete sentences.
*Divide children into pairs and let one child point while the other child reads the word.

Trackers
Use wands to track print, identify parts of speech, find details in illustrations, and so forth.

Invisible Writing
Use wands to write letters, words, numerals, etc. in the air.

Story Starters
Prompt creativity by having children write stories about what they would do with a magic wand.

Teacher Magic
Close your eyes as you wave the wand and say, “Abracadabra! I wish that all my students would sit quietly and listen to me.” When they are all quiet you can open your eyes. Taa daa!

GOOD-BYE BOOK

Our daughter and her husband are on sabbatical this semester and left this week for teaching and theater projects in Bulgaria and Australia. Of course, the children will go with them, and “home schooling” will be an interesting challenge for my daughter!!!

Something happened on their last day of school that touched my heart, and I think it’s important to pass it on to you. Both of the children were excited about their adventure, but they were very sad about leaving their teachers and friends. Kalina’s friends all drew her pictures and made a book for her. She treasures that book because it’s a tangible reminder of her school and an empty part of her life now. K.J. just said good-bye to his friends. Don’t you know he would have loved a book as well? And, wouldn’t that have been a good writing experience for his 4th grade classmates?

So, the next time a student leaves, please think about having your class make a book for them. A picture and a note from you about how special they are would mean a lot! You could also suggest that they send a postcard, letter, or email their friends about their new school. I’ve even made up a song to sing:

Good-Bye Song
(Tune: “Good Night, Ladies”)
Good-bye, child’s name.
Good-bye, child’s name.
Good-bye, child’s name.
We’re sad to see you go.

You know, it might also be a good idea to make a “Welcome Book” when you have a new student. Classmates could write/draw something special about their new school to give them something positive to anticipate. And you could sing:
Welcome, child’s name.
Welcome, child’s name.
Welcome, child’s name.
We’re glad you’re in our room.

FLOWER POWER

Mr. Winter might still have a few tricks up his sleeve, but you can give your students a taste of spring with “Plant a Flower Day” (March 12). 

                     

How about planting a word family garden? Let children write rimes on circles and then add petals with words they can make.

Write numerals on circles and then add petals with different math facts that equal that number. 

Write words commonly used (nice, like, go) on circles and then write synonyms on the petals.

Let children plant flower seeds in bathroom cups that can be transferred outside when the weather is warmer.

Parts of a Flower
Sing this song to the tune of “Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes.”
Flower (Hands around face.)
Stem (Point to neck.)
Leaves (Stick out arms.)
And roots (Touch feet.) –
Leaves and roots.
Flower, stem, leaves, and roots –
Leaves and roots.
All it takes is sun (Hands up in circle over head.)
And showers (Wiggle fingers down.)
And a seed (Hold out palm.)
Grows into a flower. (Spread fingers of right hand up through left fist.)

SPRING FEVER STANDARDS

Yeah, I know we’re still several weeks away from spring, but I’ve got the “fever” early this year. A little bit of sunshine, plus standards, equals outdoor fun! 

I Want to Go Out and Play Book
(Writing an opinion)
Give each child a sheet of paper and ask them to draw a picture of why they like to go outside. Ask them to write (or dictate) a sentence about their drawing.  Make a cover that says, “I Want to Go Out and Play.” Put their pages together, hole punch, and insert book rings.

Sit and Write
(Descriptive writing)
Each child will need paper, a clipboard or cardboard to write on, and a pencil or crayon. Have children spread out in a comfortable area and write stories, poems, or descriptions of what they see.

Alphabet Walk 
Divide children into groups of four and give each group a sheet of paper with the letters of the alphabet. (They will also need a pencil and a clipboard to write on.) Challenge groups to find as many objects as they can for the letters in the alphabet. For example: A-acorn, B-bird, C-cloud, D-dirt, etc.
                 
Shape Hunt
Cut circles, squares, rectangles, and triangles out of construction paper and put them in a bag. Children choose a shape and then try to match it up with a similar shape on the playground.
*Have children lie on the ground and make shapes with their bodies. Take photos to make a class book.

Bounce and Count
How many times can they bounce a ball and catch it? How many times can they toss a ball with a friend and not drop it?
*Have each child silently count the steps from the classroom to the playground. Compare their answers.

Worm Measurement
Cut yarn or string into different sections (3”-12”) and place them in a bag. Explain that you have “worms” in your bag and they will all get to choose one. Have them walk around the playground and find objects that are longer, shorter, or equal to their worm. (Exchange worms after a few minutes.)

GIVE ME A DRUM ROLL....

Here are a few ideas to focus children’s attention for a special announcement. I’ve even got a video so you can watch me do them.

Drum Roll
Say, “Give me a drum roll” as you pat your thighs. When all are engaged you can make your announcement.

Beethoven
Pretend to hold your violin and play as you hum the first few notes to Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony.
“Da da da daaaaaa. Da da da daaaaa.”

Trumpet Call
Hold trumpet as you go, “Doo doo doo doo doo doooooo!”

Tootaroo
Cut paper towel rolls in half and then let children decorate with markers and stickers. When a student accomplishes a skill or the class does outstanding work you can get out your tootaroos to celebrate.

LEFT FROM RIGHT

My friend, Anthony Corbo (aka “Mr. Kindergarten”) is a retired kindergarten teacher from Long Island. He and I both work for SDE and often travel together. You’d think after all the years we’d get tired of talking “shop,” but we still love to share ideas. You’re going to love this song Anthony taught me.

Left From Right (Tune: “Mary Had a Little Lamb”)
I want to learn my left from right,
Left from right, left from right.
I want to learn my left from right,
I try with all my might.
The left hand makes the letter L,
Letter L, letter L.
The left hand makes the letter L,
Hurray, now I can tell!

Sticker - Put a sticker on each child’s right hand and then play “Simon Says” or the “Hokey Pokey.”

Ribbon – Tie a Red Ribbon to the Right wrist. Red ribbon on the right!

Lotion - Rub lotion or scented lip balm on each child’s right hand.
Hint! If you focus on the right hand, then what is leftover is always their LEFT!

Pledge – Trace around your right hand, cut it out, and tape it near the flag. Remind children to match their hand up with your right hand to know which hand to put over their heart.

Right On!
I attended the Missouri Conference on Young Years over the weekend and it was like a revival!!!  We were all about children and playing and having FUN!  Here are a few of my new BFF's.